A veteran Cornwall visitor has vowed never to return there again due to “profiteering car parking companies".
David Watt has been coming to Polzeath for the past four decades and enjoying the coastal walks and everything the North Cornwall corner has to offer.
He even met his wife in the area and regularly brings his children there, Cornwall Live reported.
Now his love of the country has been soured by one car parking company which has caught him out on several occasions after he made the roughly 0.7 mile drive (14 minute walk) his home to a nearby shop several times.
David said he has been made to pay what he said were 'exorbitant, over-the-top fines that do not fit the crime'.
“My feelings about Cornwall and the weeks I spend in the Duchy each year have now all changed thanks to a private parking company called Alliance Parking UK Ltd and their owner Kevin McManus," the frustrated tourist said.
"For as long as I can remember, we have rented houses in Trebetherick, and each morning, as an early riser, I have driven down to the Spar in Polzeath to collect papers and croissants for our guests.
"There used to be free parking spaces outside the Spar in Polzeath but these have now been cordoned off.
“Now, and when these weren’t free in the past, I parked in the Sea View car park opposite the Spar.
"As each visit was for just a few minutes, and the car park was empty, I confess to not buying a ticket, but had I been staying longer I of course would not have risked a parking ticket and have paid.
"In all the years I have been doing this I have never received a ticket of any type, because my stays were so brief and so early that parking attendants were not around.
"Was I in the wrong? Probably, but I don’t think that I was committing a serious crime.”
It all changed after automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were installed by Alliance Parking.
Many people have also shared their own tales of how the briefest of stops in car parks turned into threats of legal action and £100 fines.
David found out when he received 12 Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) from Alliance Parking for £100, or £60 if he paid within 14 days.
He said that three were for his youngest daughter, who is a new driver, and had either not paid or overstayed her parking in Daymer Bay Car Park, with the other nine being for himself and his wife in Sea View Car Park.
He also said that on every occasion his own “violations” ranged from six minutes to 12 minutes.
“Are we in the wrong? Undoubtedly, that is not in dispute," David continued.
"What is in dispute is the severity of the fines. My 62 minutes and 42 seconds of parking is going to cost me, provided I pay early, £5.80 per minute, or a total of £540.
"In various email exchanges with Alliance Parking I have admitted my guilt and have offered to pay a fee, but I feel that the punishment does not fit the crime.
"Alliance Parking have declined my offer and require me to pay the full fee.”
He added: “Is what Alliance Parking doing wrong? Probably not. Is what they are doing affecting tourism to Cornwall? Very probably.
"Is what they are doing blatant profiteering? Absolutely definitely.
“The installation of ANPR cameras has enabled them to turn the issuing of parking fines into a well-oiled machine, punishing motorists for even the most minor breaches.
"What is certain is that having paid the full £760 worth of fines I will not return to Cornwall until Alliance have gone.
"I admit that I broke the rules and should have read the signs in the car park, but that figure is disgusting.
"I just cannot comprehend how a Cornishman owning a Cornish Company can be doing so much to drive tourists away.”
Alliance Parking has been contacted for comment.
